L'Hôtel d'Ebersmunster ou Cour des Prélats

PRELATE COURT
This former urban residence of the Benedictine monks of Ebersmunster, whose construction began in 1538, represents one of the early manifestations of the Alsatian Renaissance in Selestat. A building of refuge behind the city walls, but also a granary for storing the income in kind from the Prelate's lands and rights, the Prälatenhof has welcomed many distinguished guests.

Inside, the vestibule is paved with sandstone; on either side of the entrance portal remain medallions in the antique style with profiles of Romulus and Remus. The door frames are surmounted by shells and adorned, for some, with pilasters decorated with candelabras and for others with ribbons.

The building was purchased by the City in 1960 and classified as a Historic Monument in 1976.

NORTH GATE, FORMER MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE PRELATE'S COURTYARD
This monumental doorway resembles a triumphal arch whose rich ornamental chant is inspired by the Italian Renaissance (Venetian and Lombard).

On the pilasters covered with arabesques, one can see antique medallions with the effigy of Roman consuls or Germanic emperors. The largest of these medallions showed the heads of Saint Odile's parents, founders of Ebersmunster Abbey. All these medallions were burnt in 1793-94 (at the time of the Revolutionary Terror).

The entablature has a Latin inscription from 1541 mentioning the two abbots (Georges Richenbach and Jean Sengelbach) who were successively in charge of the construction of the hotel. The elevation ends with an aedicula with a shell, a characteristic element of the Renaissance decoration.

DATAtourisme France